Category Archives: Alan’s Life

I hope ‘American Sniper’ has a good story: I like sniper movies

Posted on by
Reply
"American Sniper" has been getting quite a bit of buzz these days. (photo credit - fair use)

“American Sniper” has been getting quite a bit of buzz these days. (photo credit – fair use)

There’s been quite a bit of social media and entertainment news traffic about the movie directed by Clint Eastwood and starring Bradley Cooper, as Chris Kyle in American Sniper.

Last night at the Silver Sage Village pot luck dinner, there was a pretty good discussion about the military experience of five men in the community , which is no experience. None of us saw any duty during the Vietnam War era, mostly because of student deferments.

I’ve always thought that service in the military was a part of my maturation process that I missed, considering that four of my uncles were in the army 1-A. My dad was 4-F.

I wasn’t sure if I wanted to watch American Sniper.

After some thinking, I realized that I like sniper movies. There are sniper characters in lots of movies which date back to when I was a kid. I was a bit of a loner back then – still am – which probably explains my attraction to them.

My earliest recollection of snipers is from a 1960s TV show called "Combat". (photo credit - fair use)

My earliest recollection of snipers is from a 1960s TV show called “Combat”. (photo credit – fair use)

There was a TV show called Combat with Vic Morrow as Sgt. Saunders and Rick Jason as Lt. Hanley. I remember one episode called “The Sniper”. The squad takes refuge in a French town after it was liberated and gets pinned down by a Nazi sniper. They can’t find him and Sgt. Saunders eventually figures out he’s been hiding in plain clothes in town.

Turns out the bad guy was abetted by Sgt. Saunders’ love interest. He eventually mows the sniper down with his Thompson sub-machine gun, after the girl gets sniped. She has a recognition and reversal and realizes she should have remained loyal to her homeland and dies in Sgt. Saunders’ arms. Combat always had good stories with war as a back drop.

From when I was young, I’ve always liked James Bond, some war movies – many have snipers as characters.

In no particular order, here are some sniper movies that came to mind. I’ve watched these many times. All of the video clips linked are graphic, so open them at your own risk.

I like movies where there are old guys teaching young guys, like in "spy Game" (photo credit - fair use)

I like movies where there are old guys teaching young guys, like in “Spy Game” (photo credit – fair use)

Spy Game – This is one of those two generational movies. Robert Redford plays a veteran CIA agent – Jason Muir – who recruits upstart sniper Brad Pitt – Tom Bishop – during the Vietnam War. He passes on all his spy wisdom to Pitt who is a bit of a renegade and ends up  imprisoned in China after a botched attempt to rescue his girlfriend who was aiding the bad guys in the Middle East in exchange for money to keep her NGO going. Robert Redford is retiring and the double entendre story has Redford giving his exit interview with his bosses while using CIA resources to spring Pitt and the girlfriend from prison. Bishop and Muir were both better loners than team players.

Jean Reno reluctantly teaches young Natalie Portman the assassin trade in "The Professional" (photo credit - fair use)

Jean Reno reluctantly teaches young Natalie Portman the assassin trade in “The Professional” (photo credit – fair use)

The Professional – This is an odd movie with Jean Reno as Leon, the assassin, and a 12 year old orphan named Matilda played by Natalie Portman. In one scene, Leon gives Matilda a sniper lesson teaching her how to follow a target with a high powered rifle. I think this scene is only in the director’s cut. I don’t remember it when it was on TV the other night.

Matilda wants to learn the ways of an assassin to avenge the death of her brother. Gary Oldman plays a rogue cop addicted to meth trying to foil Leon and Matilda.

It’s a different kind of love story and when the two aren’t blowing stuff up, the two get to know each other like father and daughter as well as partners in crime.

Classic 1972 yarn about a plot to kill de Gaulle. (photo credit - fair use)

Classic 1972 yarn about a plot to kill de Gaulle. (photo credit – fair use)

The Day of the Jackal – The original has Edward Fox playing an assassin who is hired to kill French President Charles de Gaulle in the 1960s. The Jackal ends up getting a clean shot at de Gaulle, but misses. He’s noticed by the French police who kill him.

Fox also became a staple in couple of my favorite war movies A Bridge Too Far which was written by my favorite screen screenwriter William Goldman and in Force 10 from Navarone, the sequel to The Guns of Navarone.

There was a remake called The Jackal with Bruce Willis as the bad guy who is being chased by Richard Gere. The new version doesn’t have much similar to the original. Both versions are on cable TV. I catch parts of them when channel surfing.

Andrew Robinson plays a creepy bad guy called Scorpio in "Dirty Harry" (photo credit - fair use)

Andrew Robinson plays a creepy bad guy called Scorpio in “Dirty Harry” (photo credit – fair use)

Dirty Harry – This was the first installment of Clint Eastwood’s portrayal of San Francisco detective of questionable ethics Harry Callahan. It came out the year I graduated from high school in 1971. The psycho bad guy is a sniper called Scorpio played by Andrew Robinson. He was type cast after his Scorpio role. Towards the beginning of the movie, a San Francisco police helicopter catches up to him on a rooftop aiming on some unsuspecting targets. He leaves notes at each crime scene demanding $100,000 from the city government or he’ll keep killing random citizens ($100,000? why bother!?) He and Callahan have a final shoot out in a rock quarry when the infamous line “Do I feel lucky” is uttered. Scorpio was a Vietnam vet who came home and was a victim of PTSD and mistreatment when he came back stateside causing him to go berserk. This veteran stereotype probably wouldn’t go over very well today.

Eastwood also directed American Sniper. I wonder if he had any throwbacks to his original Dirty Harry role and Scorpio.

Back when I was a kid, playing war was a part of goofing around in my suburban neighborhood in Cheyenne, Wyoming. I still don’t think that there was anything odd about my pals and me dressing up like WWII soldiers and digging fox holes in the vacant fields behind the subdivision. It was a big treat to browse around the Sergeant’s Surplus store for old canvas backpacks, dummy grenades and such.

I didn’t turn out to be that demented.

This socialization process was the norm back in those days. I owned lots of toy guns, including a Sgt. Saunders Tommy gun by Mattel and a Marx bazooka that shot these blue plastic rockets.

When we played, nobody wanted to be the sniper because that entailed being alone and we all would rather storm pretend machine gun nests.

This is why I think there has always been a fascination with the lone wolf sniper persona.

There are plenty of other movies from Rambo to the Hurt Locker that include snipers in them. I’ve heard that American Sniper is very graphic. My guess is that any gore is left up to the imagination. I can’t see director Eastwood going over the top with any of that.

American Sniper will be on demand soon, I’ll likely live the life of Chris Kyle vicariously on the small screen.

Modern health care: mixing folk cures and medical apps

Posted on by
1
I just reenrolled with Kaiser Permanente as my insurance provider for 2015.

I just reenrolled with Kaiser Permanente as my insurance provider for 2015.

As has happened to me on an annual basis for the past 20 years or so, Kaiser Permanente (KP) cancelled my health insurance coverage on December 31. I call it cancelled, insurance companies call. the new iteration new and improved.

I’ve always had the choice to either re-up with the same policy and pay more or get a lesser policy to keep the premium about the same.

I’m sticking with KP – brand loyalty.

Over the past year, I’ve been melding old world medicine in the forms of acupuncture at the Southwest Acupuncture College Clinic for my lung problems, neti pot flushing to rinse out my sinuses, gin soaked raisins for joint pain; with modern medicine through KP.

I've been melding old world medicine like acupuncture with modern medicine.

I’ve been melding old world medicine like acupuncture with modern medicine.

The reason I’ve stayed with KP over the years is the HMO is one-stop shopping. I’ve had the same primary care doctor for many years and access to others in his group over at the Baseline office.

The main downside is the hospital and emergency services are located 15 miles away at the Good Samaritan Hospital. That was a big hassle when I was laid up early in 2014.

Anyway, there was a NPR radio segment on “Science Friday” yesterday about how smartphone apps are changing how health care is accessed.

That’s been very handy for me.

The Kaiser Permanente smartphone app is very handy for keeping track of my health.

The Kaiser Permanente smartphone app is very handy for keeping track of my health.

I use the KP app on the phone which is the same user inner face as the computer. I can access my health records, write to my docs. On the computer I can make and cancel appointments.

The best part is being able to communicate by email with my doctors. Over the past year, I’ve developed a long list of them from the main doctor, to surgeons to rheumatologists, to pulmonologists. They’re all pretty good at writing back and that saves on co-pays and trips to their offices.

It’s amazing what they can tell from blood tests.

In addition to keeping track with the app, I’ve been able to combine old world and new world medicine together successfully. I downloaded my health record and put it in my acupuncture health file. That’s been useful since the herbalists there are able to see how my regular doctors have been treating me and can suggest acupuncture and herbal alternatives. KP offers acupuncture, but its clinic is pretty far to the east of me so I haven’t tried it.

There are also phone apps for acupuncture meridians.

There are also phone apps for acupuncture meridians.

The Southwest Acupuncture College Clinic is a lot like an HMO. Based on a patient’s needs, there are a variety of practices offered from acupuncture – needles, moxabustion; body work – shiatsu, tuina, cupping; herbal medicine; pain management and combinations of those practices. I have a smartphone app about the acupuncture meridians.

I’ve heard about people who refuse to use modern medicine in favor of traditional remedies.

There’s a reason people used to die when they were 40.

There’s room for both approaches in the same treatments. My post herpetic neuralgia got better with acupuncture and electrical stimulation and blood letting. My Kaiser doc put me on prescription drug neurontin and the combo has been reducing the pain.

I've been trying some kitchen remedies like gin - infused raisins for joint pain.

I’ve been trying some kitchen remedies like gin – infused raisins for joint pain.

Lately, I’ve heard about soaking golden raisins in gin for joint pain and arthritis. I haven’t asked my medical docs about it, but will report to them if I find it effective.

I made up a batch and have been eating nine gin-infused raisins daily.

I’ll report back any changes in my stiff fingers battered up from sports abuse and autoimmunity. A couple of my friends have reported that the raisin – gin concoction was effective.

The Little Yoga Studio is, in fact little, but has a great welcoming environment for beginners to expert yoga practitioners.

The Little Yoga Studio is, in fact little, but has a great welcoming environment for beginners to expert yoga practitioners.

My Kaiser doc did recommend the Neil Med / Neti Pot. I bought the starter kit for a couple bucks at the pharmacy and it worked instantly for my sinus dripping / nonallergic rhinitis. I use it a couple times a day with a couple shots of the prescription flonase in the morning.

Did I mention I’ve been going class at the Little Yoga Studio two or three times a week?

My top stories from 2014: Mork, Gutless NFL, Soft on Commies, Homeland and ISIS, Blues blow it, and more …

Posted on by
Reply
My yoga teacher at The Little Yoga Studio told a story about why we should avoid New Years resolutions about making us perfect, since we are imperfect beings.

My yoga teacher at The Little Yoga Studio told a story about why we should avoid New Years resolutions about making us perfect, since we are imperfect beings.

When I was working in the newspaper business, at the end of the year, the staff sat around and came up with the top news stories. I was the sports editor and came up with the top sports stories. The yoga teacher the other day was talking about how none of us are perfect. Rather than striving for perfection with New Years resolutions, we should figure out ways to work within our imperfections to make life better for ourselves and for others.

Now that I’m an arm chair journalist, here are my top 10 picks mostly about the foibles of people and how they may have an impact on our daily lives, in no particular order:

The GOP took control of the Senate with Harry Reid leaving as President Pro - tem and Mitch McConnell on tap to take the job.

The GOP took control of the Senate with Harry Reid leaving as President Pro -tem and Mitch McConnell on tap to take the job. (Photo Fair Use)

Democrats blow midterms, lose US Senate – The biggest domestic story that happened was on election day when the GOP took control fo the US Senate. Harry Reid is out and Mitch McConnell is in as President Pro-tem. Politicians like these two guys are an odd lot. Neither wants to budge from their  extreme positions. I wonder if McConnell will soften up now that he’s in charge. It was a weird election – stock market strong, gas prices low, unemployment rate low. As near as I can figure, the Democrats blew it by not getting out the vote. This midterm election was decided by 36 percent of the electorate. It will be interesting to see how things change starting in January.

Ray Rice, Janay Rice

Washed up Baltimore Ravens running back had a roller coaster ride after slugging his wife and getting away with it for a while until a movie surfaced of the bludgeoning.(Photo Fair Use)

NFL cuts DV perps slack – Having worked in the domestic violence prevention field for a number of years, I was intrigued by how incompetent the National Football League was in dealing with the Ray Rice issue. His domestic violence proclivity brought the issue to light in big time sports. Whether or not there will be any long lasting changes, we’ll have to wait and see. I have a MPA degree from CU – Denver in domestic violence prevention. One of my thesis advisors, National Coalition Against Domestic Violence Executive Director Rita Smith is a member of the NFL advisory group. So far, the issue has become irrelevant with the playoffs on the horizon. Ray Rice still doesn’t have a job and unlikely to get one.

mr november

I was in Yankee Stadium when Derek Jeter was dubbed Mr. November during the 2001 World Series against the Arizona Diamondbacks. (Photo Fair Use)

Jeter calls it a career –  He hung up his spikes after 19 years in pinstripes. This is the best “feel good” story of the 10 I picked. I think Jeter is truly a good guy. Playing shortstop for the Yankees was always my dream job, but it was always taken. I had a chance to watch him play a few times when the Yankees played the Colorado Rockies and in the 2001 World Series. It was scheduled later in October than usual because of the 9/11 attacks in New York. I was at the game when he was dubbed “Mr. November” after he hit a game winning home run to knot the series against the Arizona Diamondbacks at two games apiece. Derek says he wants to settle down and have a family. I imagine he’ll be giving a lot back to the community, whether it’s in New York or his home town of Kalamazoo Michigan.

NBC reporter Nancy Snyderman was one of the biggest stories when she broke quarantine and went to a coffee shop in her neighborhood and got caught.

NBC reporter Nancy Snyderman was one of the biggest stories when she broke quarantine and went to a coffee shop in her neighborhood and got caught. (Photo Fair Use)

Ebola non-story keeps voters at home – A couple of the cable TV stations had a heyday with a few people getting sick from ebola. You would have thought that ebola was spreading like weeds. When the election was over, suddenly, the US ebola epidemic was over – four cases, one death. Contrast that with the 30 pediatric flu deaths as of September 2014 and 36 states reporting widespread flu occurrences as December 20th.  Cable TV was also airing that Dustin Hoffman – Renee Russo movie “Outbreak” during this time period, just to get us all in the worst possible scenario mood. I hope people look at stories holistically, rather than in a reactionary fashion.

There was a big to do about "The Interview" which was reportedly the reason Sony's internet security was breached.

There was a big to do about “The Interview” which was reportedly the reason Sony’s internet security was breached. (Photo Fair Use)

Sony hacked, sets up “The Interview” publicity stunt – Everyone pretty much knows about the Sony hack job that’s been reported in the popular media. The FBI is still blaming North Korea because of the James Franco – Seth Rogen movie, “The Interview” about the assassination plot of the Kim Jung Un. Turns out, it may have been an opportune publicity stunt riding the wave of an inside Sony hack job by a band of disgruntled employees. Nonetheless, reading the private emails between angst – filled studio execs was quite revealing and entertaining. I’m planning a watch “The Interview” party on January 6th. Moral of this story is, don’t write down stuff you don’t others to see in emails.

A man backs away as law enforcement officials close in on him and eventually detain him during protests over the death of Michael Brown, an unarmed black teenager killed by a police officer, in Ferguson, Mo.

Ominous US Army surplus riot gear supposedly added to the schism between citizens and cops in Ferguson, MO (Photo Fair Use)

“Stand Up Don’t Shoot” “I Can’t Breathe” movement needs closers – This is another story that everyone must have heard a little something about. There is definitely more awareness about the “us versus them” mentality that is evident in at least some police departments. The unarmed black kid shot by a white cop in a suburb of St. Louis and riots and protests ensued around the country. I’m not sure where it all will be headed, but protesting and tossing cars will soon become old hat. The “Hands Up Don’t Shoot” movement needs some closers. Also on the shirt tail of this shooting is that of the band of cops who strangled a guy selling loosey cigarettes on a New York City sidewalk. That added fuel to the fire. I hope this movement doesn’t end up like Occupy.

The Showtime cable series "Homeland" has brought ISIS into the living room. Carrie picks off snipers.

The Showtime cable series “Homeland” has brought ISIS into the living room. Carrie picks off snipers.

“Homeland” CIA crew fights ISIS in our living rooms – I’m a big “Homeland” fan. That’s the cable TV series on Showtime that just wrapped it’s fourth season. Homeland’s Carrie – who has been dealing with bipolar illness – somehow keeps afloat in a very high stress job. She and former CIA director Saul have normalized the US fight against ISIS and brought it into our living rooms. The last three episodes were about ineptitude in the US Embassy. In real life, the Islamic State, as near as I can figure is quite enterprising. They raise millions in cash from family oil fortunes; revenues from their own oil fields; contraband in the forms of drugs and stolen ancient artifacts. The US pulled out of Afghanistan, just in time to keep soldiers employed as the US re-escalates in Iraq and Syria. I can’t wait for the next season of “Homeland” to air next summer! I’m not quite sure what to think about the war with ISIS. It’s seems like another non-starter and a no-win situation. The US has less at stake since domestic fuel production is at an all time high.

The Mork and Mindy house in Boulder was turned into a shrine for the late Robin Williams.

The Mork and Mindy house in Boulder was turned into a shrine for the late Robin Williams. (Photo Fair Use)

Mork from Ork leaves this world – Around Boulder, this was a pretty big story since his 1970s classic sitcom “Mork and Mindy” was set in Boulder during the 1970s. He committed suicide, which is always too bad but he must have been fighting off demons. I don’t think he spent much time in Boulder during the series. Based on the tributes placed at the Boulder TV house, you’d think he flew in from Ork and lived in Boulder his entire alien life. I must admit that I made a pilgrimage to the Mork and Mindy house this summer – Nanu Nanu …! He could have been so much more prolific. If you feel like you need help for a mental illness, get to the doctor.

Air Asia and Malaysian Airlines were at the center of three air disasters this year. (Photo Fair Use)

Air Asia and Malaysian Airlines were at the center of three air disasters this year. (Photo Fair Use)

Asia-based airlines go down in flames with three disasters  – It wasn’t a great year for Asia – based airlines. This week, Air Asia flight 8501 was lost and the remains found in the Java Sea with no survivors of the 162 passengers on board . Malaysian Airlines 370 dropped off the radar screen and vanished with 239 passengers. The Malaysian transportation minister tried to stonewall the story but finally came around and said that no wreckage had been found. On top of that, Malaysian Airlines 17 carrying 298 passengers was shot down over the Ukraine by separatist renegades. These crashes certainly are not everyday occurrences, but give me a train ride any day!

President Obama and Pope Frances were involved in negotiations with Raul Castro to normal relations with Cuba. (Photo Fair Use)

President Obama and Pope Frances were involved in negotiations with Raul Castro to normal relations with Cuba. (Photo Fair Use)

Obama and Pope soft on the Cuban commies – This story just came out of nowhere, even though it was in the making for several months and included intervention by Pope Francis. President Obama announced that the full diplomatic relations would be renewed with the Raul Castro regime and that an American Embassy would be opened in Havana.

The Cuban baseball player market will be open with normalized relations between Cuba and the US. Sal Maglie played for a Cuban baseball team

The Cuban baseball player market will be open with normalized relations between Cuba and the US. Sal Maglie played for a Cuban baseball team.

The Cuban baseball player market will be open with normalized relations between Cuba and the US. There are a bunch of people who think this is a bad idea since they have been working on getting the government to change its tactics. The recent announcement, put the kibosh on their efforts.

The biggest benefit I see is baseball players won’t have to defect or risk drowning at sea in make-shift rafts. I went to visit family in Peru and flew on AeroPeru. The plane made a late night stop in Havana, not enough time to get off the plane, but I count that as being in Cuba.

The Little Yoga Studio is, in fact little, buck has a great welcoming environment for beginners to expert yoga practitioners.

The Little Yoga Studio is, in fact little, buck has a great welcoming environment for beginners to expert yoga practitioners. I like this place because of  the stories.

There are many more stories, but these are 10 I picked out as significant in 2014.

I picked stories mostly about people with flaws and I hope that we can learn from their stories.

My life in 2014 really wasn’t that memorable, but if you had some great experiences, good or bad I hope they will help inform your decisions and choices in 2015.